On December 5, 2024, the US Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights issued a “Dear Colleague” letter reiterating obligations that covered entities have under the May 2024 final rule related to language access requirements under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. Section 1557 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in covered health programs and activities. The final rule strengthened many protections against discrimination in healthcare, including rules for providing language assistance to individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) or disability. This Dear Colleague letter had the goal of outlining key requirements to ensure that covered entities provide meaningful language access to individuals in time for the June 5, 2025, deadline for full implementation.
HHS Letter Reiterates Expectations for Language Accessibility
By Gregory Fosheim and Emily Curran on December 17, 2024
Posted In Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
Gregory FosheimGregory E. Fosheim provides counsel on a wide array of corporate, transactional and regulatory compliance matters across the healthcare and life sciences industry. Drawing on his extensive laboratory and public health background and insight, he regularly advises on clinical and diagnostic laboratory matters, anatomic pathology and fertility laboratory compliance. Greg also represents hospitals, health systems and physician practice management companies in all aspects of transactional and operational matters, particularly those with regulatory, licensing, accreditation and policy considerations, and he has negotiated several acquisitions and sales of proton therapy centers. Read Gregory Fosheim’s full bio.
Emily CurranEmily R. Curran focuses her practice on healthcare regulatory and compliance issues in the managed care space. She counsels both for-profit and non-profit healthcare insurance companies on state and federal policy issues and advises clients on reimbursement issues that come into play when participating in government healthcare programs. Emily also supports the Firm’s transactional work. Read Emily Curran's full bio.
Related Posts
- HHS Final Section 1557 Nondiscrimination Regulations: Gender-Affirming Care and the Role of Carriers Under ASO Arrangements
- HHS Issues Proposed Rule Under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act: Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities
- Are Out-of-Pocket Costs on Their Way Out? At-Home COVID-19 Testing and Expanded Preventative Healthcare for Women and Children
- HHS Proposes Changes to 2016 Regulations for ACA Non-Discrimination Rule
- The Impact of the ACA 1557 Final Regulations on Pregnancy and Abortion
BLOG EDITORS
STAY CONNECTED
TOPICS
ARCHIVES
RECENT POSTS
- HHS Letter Reiterates Expectations for Language Accessibility
- Employee Benefit Plans: Important Considerations for Year-End and 2025
- Post-Election Outlook: Issues to Watch for Pharmacy Industry Stakeholders
- Post-Election Health Policy Priorities
- IRS Issues Proposed Regulations to Ensure Expanded Preventative Care Services Coverage
